GNAC Report: Robles among national leaders in offense

GNAC FOOTBALL REPORT — WEEK 9

GNAC Standings
Team … CW-CL … OW-OL
Azusa Pacific … 6 1 … 6 2
Western Oregon … 5-2 … 5-3
Cent. Washington … 5-2 … 5-3
Dixie State … 3-4 … 3-5
Simon Fraser … 2-5 … 2-5
Humboldt St. … 0-7 … 0-8

LAST SATURDAY: Azusa Pacific 24 at Central Washington 17; Humboldt State 19 at Dixie State 28; Simon Fraser 16 at Western Oregon 30.

THIS WEEK: Western Oregon at Azusa Pacific, 6:30 p.m.; Humboldt State at Central Washington, 1 p.m.; Dixie State at Simon Fraser, 2 p.m.

BIG NUMBERS

A huge performance Saturday has moved Dixie State quarterback Griff Robles into sixth place nationally in total offense among NCAA Division II football players.

Robles rushed for 217 yards and three touchdowns and passed for 267 yards and one score leading the Red Storm to a 28-19 home win over Humboldt State. 

His 484 yards in total offense is the third highest single-game total in GNAC history and is rushing total ranks 11th all-time in conference history.  He is the first player in conference history to rush and  pass for at least 200 yards in the same game. 

gnacRobles leads the GNAC in total offense averaging 372.8 yards per game.  He also is the conference leader in passing with a 300.8 per game average.  Robles has completed 190 of 327 passes for 2,406 yards and 20 touchdowns and has been intercepted just five times.

Robles is one of five GNAC players ranked in the Top 10 in this week’s national statistics.  Simon Fraser linebacker Casey Chin is the highest ranked player in any category.  He ranks fourth in both tackles per game (13.0) and solo tackles per game (7.0) and is just on pace to set GNAC single-season records in both categories.

Humboldt State freshman receiver Chase Krivashei ranks eighth in receptions (8.4 per game).  Central Washington’s Isaiah Davis ranks ninth in interceptions with five in eight contests.    Humboldt State kicker Matt Bruder is 10th in field goals made per game converting on 11 of 16.

In team categories, Central Washington is the only GNAC team ranked in the Top 10 in a major category.  The Wildcats rank eighth in rushing defense (87.9) and 10th in total defense (298.0).

Azusa Pacific Takes Over GNAC Lead, Hosts Second-Place Western Oregon Saturday

Azusa Pacific made the most of its opportunities last Saturday in defeating Central Washington 24-17 at Ellensburg to take over sole possession of first place in the GNAC standings.

The Cougars (6-2, 6-1) currently lead both Central Washington (5-3, 5-2) and Western Oregon (5-3, 5-2) by one game in the conference standings.  APU hosts the Wolves this Saturday at Glendora.  Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m.

In Saturday’s other two games, CWU hosts Humboldt State (0-8, 0-7) at Tomlinson Stadium (1 p.m.) and Dixie State (3-5, 3-4) plays a 2 p.m. contest at Simon Fraser (2-5, 2-5).

In the first half of Saturday’s game, Azusa Pacific, which is among “others receiving votes” and is 34th overall in this week’s AFCA coaches’ poll, didn’t have a first down, ran only six offensive plays (three of them in the final minute of the half) and had possession of the football for just 1 minute, 48 seconds of the 30-minute first half

Those numbers very well could be historic in the history of college football.  Still the Cougars led 14-10 at the break scoring on a first-quarter 50-yard interception by C.J. Broussard and on a 92-yard kickoff return by Tarik Myles.  

Both of their offensive series of the half were 3-and-outs. 

CWU, which successfully executed the first of two onside kicks after a second-quarter field goal, had a 55-6 edge in snaps and a 186-16 lead in yards in the half.   

The Wildcats finished the game with an 80-42 lead in plays and a 311-191 advantage in total offense. 

Azusa’s 42 total plays equaled the lowest in conference history.  Western Washington allowed just 42 snaps to Nebraska Omaha in a 2004 non-conference game.

Three Pointers

Matt Bruder of Humboldt State connected from 49 and 39 yards in the Lumberjacks’ 28-19 loss to Dixie State.  Bruder leads the GNAC in field goals from 40 yards, making five (42, 46, 44, 46 and 49 in that order).  He is 11 of 16 overall and Saturday’s  49-yarder is the second longest this season in the conference.  

Jamie Cacciatore of Azusa Pacific, who has a 52-yarder,  has the best field goal percentage in the GNAC, making 10 of 12 and is tied with Correa (8 of 11 on 3-pointers) for most kick-scoring points with 50.

3,079 and Counting

In less than two full seasons in the GNAC, Azusa Pacific’s Terrell Watson has rushed for 2,382 yards to rank sixth in conference history in career rushing yards.  The GNAC record is 2,836 by Jason Taroli of Western Oregon between 1997 and 1999 and in 2001. 

Including 697 yards in his freshman season before APU joined the GNAC, Watson now has rushed for 3,079 yards. He had 71 yards in 23 carries Saturday.  All but three of the carries came in the second half

As a provisional member, APU athletes are not eligible for NCAA records.  However, Watson’s second-half (272 yards) and fourth-quarter (232) rushing totals in APU’s Oct. 12 game against Simon Fraser are better than the current NCAA records.

INDIVIDUAL STELLAR GAMES

100-Yard Rushing Games: 6 – Jordan Todd, CWU; Terrell Watson, APU.  3 – Griff Robles, DSU; Chris Tolbert, SFU. 2 – Joe Harris, WOU; Myles Burton, DSC.  1 – Devauntee Hoffman, WOU; Kyle Morris, HSU; Jamarie Sanders, HSU; Joe Harris, WOU.

200-Yard Passing Games: 8 – Griff Robles, DSU.  6 – Ryan Bergman, WOU. 5 –  Kyle Morris, HSU. 4 – Ryan Stanford, SFU. 1 – Spencer Phillips, HSU.

300-Yard Passing Games: 3 – Griff Robles, DSU. 2 – Ryan Bergman, WOU. 1 – Kyle Morris, HSU; Ryan Stanford, SFU.

100-Yard Receiving Games: 4 – Joe Don Duncan, DSU. 3 – Mitch Frei, DSU; Kelechi Nwadibia, HSU; Tyrell Williams, WOU. 2 –  Chase Krivashei, HSU. 1 – Lemar Durant, SFU; Michael Reeve, WOU; Jesse Zalk, CWU; Robert Borcky, SFU.

GNAC RED LION PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Offense – Griff Robles, Dixie State (QB, 6-5, 230, Sr., Spanish Fork, UT – Utah) rushed for 217 yards and three touchdowns and passed for 267 yards and one score leading the Red Storm to a 28-19 home win over Humboldt State.  His 484 yards in total offense is the third highest single-game total in GNAC history and is rushing total ranks 11th all-time in conference history.  He is the first player in conference history to rush and  pass for at least 200 yards in the same game.  Robles scored on runs of two, 21 and 50 yards in the first, second and fourth quarters, respectively.  The latter touchdown came with 7:56 remaining after the Lumberjacks had pulled to within two points with 9:41 left on a 39-yard field goal by Matt Bruder. 

Defense – Steven Fanua, Azusa Pacific (LB, 6-1, 227, Jr., Milpitas, CA – California) had 15 tackles and a key forced fumble to lead the Cougars to a 24-17 road win at Central Washington as the Cougars took over first place in the GNAC.  Ten of his 15 tackles were solos and he also broke up two passes.  His forced fumble, which he also recovered, came with 2:59 left in the fourth quarter after CWU had executed its second successful onside kick of the game.  Following Fanua’s recovery, APU got two first downs to run out the remaining time left on the clock and preserve the victory.

Special Teams – Tarik Myles, Azusa Pacific (KR, 5-6, 152, Fr., Rancho Cucamonga, CA – Summit) and Jesse Correa, Western Oregon (5-10, 185, So., Mililani, HI – St. Louis) … Myles gave the Cougars the lead at 14-10 in the second quarter returning a kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown.  He also had a 22-yard return on another kickoff … Correa kicked field goals of 46, 48 and 32 yards in the Wolves’ 30-16 win against Simon Fraser.  His 48-yarder was the third longest this fall in the GNAC and his 46-yarder equaled the fourth longest.

Honorable Mention – Devauntee Hoffman, Western Oregon (Fr., Portland, OR) rushed for 126 yards on  18 carries, averaging seven yards per carry.  He also caught one pass for nine yards … Gustave Benthin, Western Oregon (DL, 6-2, 305, Sr., Knappa, ID) had six tackles, including three for losses of 12 yards.  Two of them were sacks for losses of 10 yards.

GAME RECAPS

Azusa Pacific 24, Central Washington 17 (at Ellensburg): Azusa Pacific ran its win streak to four games – all by single digit margins – and moved a game ahead of both Central Washington and Western Oregon in the conference race … After losing its first four conference games last season, the Cougars have now won 10 of their last 11 conference contests … The Cougars controlled the football for just 8 minutes, 8 seconds through the opening three quarters, but maintained possession for most of the fourth quarter (11:44 to 3:16), scoring the clinching touchdown on an eight-yard run by Terrell Watson with 9:57 remaining. That run finished off a 90-yard, 11-play drive … Watson ended up with 71 yards on 23 rushes after touching the ball just three times in the opening half when the Cougars ran just six plays … In all APU had just 191 yards in total offense on 42 plays. CWU netted 311 yards on 80 snaps … Cougar quarterback Dasmen Stewart completed six of 11 passes for 95 yards as Ed Dillihunt had four receptions for 61 yards. Charles Hall led CWU with 80 yards on 22 rushes after replacing Jordan Todd who was injured. Todd had 44 yards on 15 rushes, including a two-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter, before leaving the game .. APU’s first two touchdowns came on defense and by its specialty teams… CJ Broussard returned an interception 50 yards for a touchdown to give the Cougars an early 7-0 lead. Then after CWU went ahead 10-7 on a 20-yard field goal by Sean McDonald, Tarik Myles had a 92-yard interception for a touchdown. Myles finished the game with 114 yards on two returns.

Western Oregon 30, Simon Fraser 16 (at Monmouth): Western Oregon got a pair of 100-yard rushing performances from Devauntee Hoffman and Joe Harris and three field goals from Jesse Correa in defeating Simon Fraser and remaining one game back in the conference race … Hoffman rushed for 126 yards on 18 carries and Harris netted 101 yards on 15 totes, including a 22-yard TD run in the second quarter to give the Wolves a 24-3 lead at the break … Correa then booted a 48-yard field goal on the final play off the third quarter to stretch his team’s lead to 27-3 … Simon Fraser scored both of its touchdowns in the final period as Kyle Kawamoto caught a 20-yard pass from Ryan Stanford and Stephen Spagnuolo scored on a one-yard run … Correa also had a 46-yard field goal in the second quarter and a 32-yard three-pointer in the final period … Western Oregon had a well-balanced attack on the afternoon netting 425 yards, 235 rushing and 190 passing. The Clan got 293 yards from quarterback Ryan Stanford.

Dixie State 28, Humboldt State 19 (at St. George, UT): Quarterback Griff Robles led the Red Storm on touchdown drives of 77 yards (5 plays), 90 yards (8 plays), 96 yards (5 plays) and 76 yards (5 plays) accounting for much of the yardage himself in a 28-19 win over Humboldt State … Robles scored on runs of 2, 21 and 50 yards and also tossed a 28-yard touchdown pass to Mitch Frei … The Dixie quarterback finished the contest with 484 yards in total offense, becoming the first player in GNAC history to both rush (217) and pass (267) for at least 200 yards in the same game. His total offense of 484 yards is the third highest total in GNAC history and is 217 rushing yards is 11th among quarterbacks … In all Dixie State netted a total of 550 yards, including 283 rushing. Humboldt State finished with 431 yards, including 285 by quarterback Kyle Morris who rushed for a net 31 yards and completed 19 of 34 passes for 254 yards … The Lumberjack points came on touchdown runs by Morris and Kash Johnson of nine and two yards and two field goals by Matt Bruder (49 and 39 yards) … HSU also had numerous other scoring opportunities, but twice came up empty inside the 10. Two other drives stalled at the 13 … In addition to Robles, the leading rushers were HSU’s Jamarie Sanders (18-76) and Johnson (16-72) and Dixie’s Joel Davis (12-64) … The leading receivers in the contest were Dixie’s Joe Don Duncan, who caught four passes for 121 yards and HSU’s Kelechi Nwadibia who had six receptions for 108 yards … On defense, linebacker Jake Duncan led the Red Storm with 12 tackles, including 2 ½ for losses of 20 yards. One of those was a 16-yard quarterback sack … Linebacker Andrew Feaster and defensive end Silas Sarvinski each had 10 tackles for Humboldt. Sarvinski had two for losses of four yards.

GAME SUMMARIES
Azusa Pacific 7 7 3 7 — 24
Central Washington 0 10 0 7 — 17

APU – Broussard 50 interception (Cacciatore kick)
CWU – Jordan 2 run (McDonald kick)
CWU – McDonald 20 Field Goal
APU – Myles 92 kickoff return (Cacciatore kick)
APU – Cacciatore 23 Field Goal
APU – Watson 8 run (Cacciatore kick)
CWU – Kinnune 9 pass from Nelson (McDonald kick)

Simon Fraser 3 0 0 13 — 16
Western Oregon 7 17 3 3 — 30

WOU – Akina 45 interception (Correa kick)
SFU – Heerspink 25 Field Goal
WOU – Correa 46 Field Goal
WOU – Leighton 2 run (Correa kick)
WOU – Harris 22 run (Correa kick)
WOU – Correa 48 Field Goal
SFU – Kawamoto 20 pass from Stanford (kick blocked)
WOU – Correa 32 Field Goal
SFU – Spagnuolo 1 run (Heerspink kick)

Humboldt State 7 3 6 3 — 19
Dixie State 7 7 7 7 — 28

DSU – Robles 2 run (Bishoff kick)
HSU – Morris 9 run (Bruder kick)
HSU – Bruder 49 Field Goal
DSU – Robles 21 run (Bishoff kick)
HSU – Kash Johnson 2 run (run failed)
DSU – Frei 28 pass from Robles (Bishoff kick)
HSU – Bruder 39 Field Goal
DSU – Robles 50 run (Bishoff kick)

GNAC Report is written by Bill Guptill. Contact him here

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @oldschoolag

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2013, all rights reserved.

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